Garment cleaning system



July 11, 1939- cs. w. JoHNsoN 2,165,487

GARIENT CLEANING SYSTEH Filed Dec. 2, 1935 `Irl/'-stints-Sheet1 P/PE TWO SPEED MOTUR pRr/M cf/AMBER GeoRef vR-JN'soN "fh-"- www/WM July 11, 19.39. G. w. JoHNsoN .2,165,437

GARIENT CLEANING ssTml Filed Dec. 2, 1935 2 sheets-sheet 2 la'111,111,111'III'.IIIIIIIIIIIL will w1'.

GEORGE' w. JOHNSON ATI'ORN EYS Patented July 11, 1939 l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GARMENT CLEANING SYSTEM Application December 2, 1935, Serial No. 52,528

15 Claims.

This invention relates to cleaning and drying machines such as are used for cleaning and drying fabrics, wearing apparel, the materials from which they are made, and other substances or articles.

In its broader aspects the invention is independent of the particular manner in which the cleaning operation is accomplished. That is to say, it relates either to washing, to-wit, to a cleansing operation performed with a soap solution or with other similar non-volatile detergent, or to dry cleaning, to-wit, a cleansing operation performed with a volatile detergent, such as gasolene, carbon tetrachloride, or the like, and the drying operation may beeither the removal of water or moisture when the cleansing operation is a washing operation, as above defined, or the removal of a volatile detergent for either drying or for deodorizing, with or without recovery of the detergent. In certain more limited aspects the invention has to do particularly with dry cleaning and accompanying drying, as distinguished from washing. For convenience, therefore, and in order to avoid confusion, it will be understood that in the description and claims hereinafter, unless otherwise clearly apparent from the context, the word "cleaning will apply broadly to any cleansingv operation, whether it be dry cleaning or washing; the expression dry cleaning" will have reference particularly to cleansing with a volatile detergent; and the word Washing to cleansing with a soap solution or other non-volatile detergent liquid; while drying applies equally to and includes both drying and deodorizing.

One object of the invention is to provide cleaning apparatus in the form of a single machine which both cleans and dries, one batch of work being operated upon in the cleaning part of the machine while another batch is simultaneously dried in the drying part of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cleaning and drying machine including means and mechanism by which the work is readily transferred from the cleaning to the drying mechanism so that both operations can be performed before the work is removed from the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide cleaning apparatusrincluding a fixed door and a movable casing having an opening so that when the casing is moved in such manner as to carry the casing opening away fromthe door the work may be discharged or removed through the opening.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined cleaning and drying machine includingv two containers or holding members, one for cleaning and theother for drying, in which the cleaning container moves back and forth between operative and dumping positions, and in so doing manipulates or controls the door to the drying container, so as to cause opening thereof 'when the cleaning container moves in one direction and closing thereof when it moves in the opposite direction.

A further object of the invention is to provide cleaning mechanism including a housing in which is a rotatable member, together with a double door unit including two doors, one for the housing and one for the rotatable member, the arrangement being such that both doors may be opened together or as aunit, or, if desired, the door for the rotatable member may be opened and closed independently of the housing door.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sealed or closed machine so arranged as to enable a batch of work to be cleaned in one chamber and to be dried in another chamber,

and to transfer the batch from chamber to 'chamber within the closed or sealed casing, so as to avoid escape of steam or vapours, loss of detergent, the production of fumes inthe open air, or other accompanying objections.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a dry cleaning machine of the character described in which two batches of work may be simultaneously operated upon, one in the dry cleaning chamber and the other in the drying chamber, with the same transfer from chamber to chamber as before, and with the machine as a whole vented to atmosphere so as to maintain substantially uniform pressure within the machine and avoid any necessity for the use of strong or unusually heavy materials for the chamher and casing walls.

Another object of the invention is to provide dry cleaning apparatus including a dry cleaning chamber within an outer substantially sealed casing, together with a double door unit including two doors, one for the cleaning chamber and the other for the outer housing, said doors being so arranged that the inner door to the dry cleaning chamber may be manipulated independently of the outer door to open and close the dry cleaning chamber, but without opening the door to the casing, thereby preserving the seal to the dry cleaning chamber.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide dry cleaning apparatus of the character defil scribed, including two communicating chambers both substantially sealed against the atmosphere .all without opening communication of either of said chambers to the atmosphere.

' A further object of the invention is to provide dry cleaning mechanism including dry cleaning apparatus and drying' apparatus mounted in a common housing and interrelated so that one discharges to the other, whereby the work may be manipulated and the entire dry cleaning and drying operations may be carried out without escape of volatile detergent to the atmosphere.

Further objects of the invention will appear more in detail hereinafter.

My invention will be better understood by reference. to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a cross-sectional view of my improved machine and the housing therefor, parts being shown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on line 2-2 `of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing the casing of the cleaning machine moved to a position to expose its opening;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail view partly in section, showing means for moving a lever for opening and closing the door to the drying compartment;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a fragmental detail view showing the connection between the driving shaft for the cylinder and the surrounding casing, the parts being somewhat separated fromtheir normal positions to more clearly illustrate the construction.

As illustrated in the drawings, my improved apparatus comprises an outer housing or casing I which is divided into upper and lower compartments 2 and 3 by a partition 4 and a wall 3a. Within the compartment 2 is a cleaning machine comprising an inner perforated drum or cylinder 5 and an outer tub consisting of a rotatable casing 6 and a fixed cover 1. The xed cover 1 lies within the casing and closes its opening 8 when the opening is in the upper position, as in Fig. 1. The opening 8 is of sufficient size to permit the passage through it of the perforated cylinder 5. Casing 6 is supported from the upper portion of the housing I by brackets 8 and Il) which are provided with rollers II and I2 which engage segmental flanges I3 and I4 extending from the ends of `the casing. One end of the casing loosely engages the upper portion of the partition 4 and is provided with a nipple I5 which extends into the chamber 3 above a horizontal wall 3a which is aflixed to one side and the ends of the housing I and engages the partition 4.

Cylinder or drum 5 is supported by a driving shaft I6 which extends through the bore of a tubular support I1 formed integral with a bellshaped yoke I8. The other end of the driving shaft I6 is provided with a gear I8 located within the yoke I8 and meshes with a gear 20 supported on one end ofa shaft 2|. The other end of shaft 2I extends through the base 22 of yoke I8 and housing I and is provided with any suitable means for driving it at various speeds, such as a low speed for the cleaning operation and a high speed arenas? for extracting purposes. ''he drawings show for this purpose a pulley 26 which is connected to a pulley 21 attached to the shaft of variable speed motor 28 by means of a belt 29. Means are thus provided for rotating the drum 5 for producing the necessary agitation for the cleaning operation and for extraction.

The bell-shaped yoke I8 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 2l and its mouth extends inwardly and is provided on its outer peripheryA with gear teeth 3l which mesh with a worm 32 fastened to a shaft 33. One end of shaft 33 is supported by a bracket 33a extending downwardly from the casing and the other end extends through an aperture in the housing and is provided with a hand wheel 30 by means of which the worm 32 may be rotated. The irreversible worm and worm gearing positively holds yoke I8 in any position to which it may be adjusted by operation ofthe worm.

Shaft 2| is provided with a collar 34 interposed between gear 20 and the base of yoke 22 upon which is rotatably mounted on arm 35 that extends through an elongated slot 36 formed in the yoke. The other end of arm 35 is attached to a bracket 31 extending upwardly from a door 38, the ends of which slide in grooves 39 formed by angle irons extending upwardly from the partition 4.

Slot 36 provides lost motion around the axis of shaft 2I between yoke I8 and arm 35, so that when yoke I8 is operated in either direction, as will appear, it first moves idly without affecting arm 35 until the full length of lost motion in slot 36 is taken up, whereupon the yoke then picks up the arm and carries it along until the adjustment is completed. Since the shaft I6 must be swung through and arm 35 through about 30 to complete their respective adjustments the lost motion slot 36 extends through about 60 around the axis of shaft 2I.

'I'he tubular support I1 is provided at its free end with a reducedi. portion 43, thereby forming a shoulder 44. Extending upwardly from the reduced portion and spaced from the shoulder is a substantially triangular shaped tongue 45 which engagesa similar shaped opening 46 formed in the lower portion of the cover 1. Casing 6 is also provided with a slot 48 which embraces the re-` duced portion of the tubular support between the shoulder 44 and the tongue 45. Cover 1 is prevented from rotating by member I1 and along both sides extends down below the axis of shaft I6, so that the cover is actually supported along its full length by casing 6.

Mounted upon one end of the casing 6 is a segmental gear 58 which meshes with a gear attached to a shaft 5I. Shaft 5I is journalled in a tubular support 52 provided with a, flange 53 which is attached to the inner side of the housing I. The shaft 5I extends through an aperture in the housing and is provided with a hand wheel 54 by means of which vthe gear 50a may be rotated.

At the end of the drum opposite its driving shaft'is a door 55 which serves as a closure for casing 6, cover 1 and for the perforated drum 5. Door 55 is bevelled to provide a tight or sealed engagement with the drum 5, but has a loose or, sloppy fit with casing 6 and cover 1 so that door 55 and perforated drum 5 may be rotated while door 55 is closed. Y

Concentric with the drum shaft and oppositely disposed therefrom is a door '56 for closing an opening in the housing I and which is hinged to the housing on a vertical axis (not shown) at one side of the door and preferablyin a vertical plane between the -two doors, in the manner described in a copending applicationfor Dry cleaning apparatus, iiled May 19, 1934-, by Russell A. Hetzer, Ser. No. 726,460, which has matured into Patent No. 2,074,508, to which reference may be had for further details if found necessary or desirable. The particular manner of movably mounting the double door unit on the housing, however, is not essential.

Brackets 51 at'tached to the housing have inwardly extending lugs at their upper and one side portion to form. a slideway for a bridge 58 through which a shaft 58 having a longitudinally extending aperture 58a is threaded. The threaded shaft 58 is provided with an annular ange 60 at its inner extremity which nts in a recess formed in cover 56 and is held in place by a collar 6|. The outer extremity of shaft 58 is enlarged to form a boss 62 which is provided with a hand wheel 64 by means of which the door 56 may be forced to a tightly closed position.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the head 63 of a rod 63a ts in a recess formed in the outer portion of door 55 and is held in place by means of a suitable collar 63e. The rod 63a extends through a housing 63f fixed to a tubular boss 65. Within the tubular boss 65 the rod 63a isvreduced in diameter thereby forming a shoulder within the tubular boss 65 and the reduced portion extends through an aperture in the door 56 and through the aperture 58a in threaded shaft 58. A spring 65a is interposed between the door 56 and the shoulder formed on shaft 68a. 'Ihe outer extremity of rod 63a has a knob 63h affixed thereto, the under side of which is provided with a pin 63e which extends into a notch or hole 63d in the boss 62. As illustrated in the drawings it will be noted that when the door 55 is forced into tightly closed position by the spring 65a the pin 63e does not extend to the bottom of the hole 63d.

With such a construction it will be apparent that the inner and outer doors may be opened and closed as a unit to insert the work. However, by pulling the rod 68a outwardly against the action of spring 65a the inner door may be opened while the outer door is maintained in sealed position and by rotating the knob 63h the pin 63e will ride upon the boss 62 and door 55 will be held in open position.

The nipple I of casing 6 is provided with a closure 66 which is threaded through the housing and is moved to open and closed position by means of a hand wheel 61, said nipple discharging to a funnel 68, mounted in wall 3a and connected to a drain conduit 68. A short wall 88 is affixed to the side of the housing and extends below the opening in the housing. This Wall serves to prevent fluid from splashing upwardly into the door housing when used detergent or solvent is being drained from the casing 6. The wall 88 is not of suflicient length, however, to prevent the rotation of casing 6.1 A supply conduit 1| also extends through the top of the housing and engages a nipple 12 on the casing 6. The upper portion of the conduit 1| is provided with a valve 13 for controlling the supply of water or solvent to the casing 6.

Arranged in the` housing below partition 4 is a drying machine or device having a chamber 14 y and in form generally similar to that disclosed in copending application Ser, No. 666,336, filed in the name of Charles M. Otis, on April 15, 1933, which has matured into Patent No. 2,029,117. As illustrated, the drying device is provided with a door 15 for ah opening 16 which registers with an opening 1 in the housing and is adapted to slide in grooves formed on the walls of the drying chamber.

Drying chamber 14 communicates by a conduit 18 with a heater 8| provided with a heating coil 82 and by a conduit 84 with the inlet of a fan 85, the outlet of which is connected to drying chamber 14 by means of a conduit 86. Additional conduits 81 and 88 leading to the atmosphere which are normally closed by dampers 88 and 80 are also connected to conduits 18 and 84, respectively. The damper shafts are connected to links 8| and 82 which, in turn, are connected to a rod 83 by means of which the dampers maybe simultaneously moved to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, whereby air from the atmosphere may be forced into the drying compartment 14 and discharged through conduits 18 and 81 to the atmosphere. Intermediate positions of valves 88 and 80 pro duce repeated'circulation of. a part of the air, when such operation is desirable.

Let us assume that the machine is to be used as a washing and drying machine, with-soap and water for the detergent. The operation then is as follows: Valve 66 is closed and the clothing, fabric or other material to be Washed is placed in the perforated cylinder 5 through the open doors 55 and 56 which are then closed. Water is supplied to the Washer from the supply conduit 1| and soap is supplied in the usual manner, Motor 28 is then placed in operation at low speed which rotates perforated cylinder 5 through shaft 2|, gears 20 and 'I8 and driving shaft I6. After the fabric has been washed, hand wheel 61 is operated and the soiled water is drained off through the lconduit 68. The motor may now be operated at high speed for an extracting operation. Hand wheel 54 is then operated to rotate casing 6 to the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the cover 1 being held in the position shown in Fig, 1, by means of the tongue 45 which engages slot46. Rod 63a is then pulled outwardly to open cylinder door 55 a suflcient extent to permit the cylinder to be moved to the dumping position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, and knob 63h is rotated to hold door 55 in open position. Hand wheel 30 is then turned to rotate yoke |8 together with the tubularsupport |1`in a clockwise direction Fig. 1, which carries driving shaft I6 and perforated cylinder 5 downwardly to said dumping position with its open end above the opening 81 in the drying compartment. As the yoke moves the lost motion in slot 36 is taken up and then arm 35 and door 38 are moved to open position, the parts finally reaching the dotted line position Fig. 1. As the doorway opens the work falls into the compartment 14 and when the drum is empty hand wheel 38 is rotated in the opposite direction to return the perforated cylinder 5 to its operating position, after which hand proceed in drum 5 in the manner before described. In the drying compartment 14 the usual drying operation proceeds. At first the valves 89 and 90 may be in the full line position shown in Fig. 1, so that hot air is circulated through the drying compartment by the fan 85. The circulating air of course tumbles the work and absorbs its moisture, as described in said Otis application. When suiiicient moisture has been absorbed by the hot air the valves may be adjusted more or less 'toward the dotted line position, either to an intermediate position in which part of the air is recirculated and some fresh air is admitted to the system, or to the dotted line position, in which no air whatever passes through the heater. In either case moisture4 ladenY air is discharged to atmosphere and fresh1drying air is admitted to the system. Finally the clothes are fully dried andall moisture has been removed. Door 15 may be opened and the dried work removed through the open doorway 11.

The foregoing description assumes that the machine is used for washing and drying, the washing operationA being performed with soap and water or a similar detergent. However, as before referred to, the apparatus is also well adapted for use in dry cleaning with a volatile detergent, such as gasolene, carbon tetrachloride or the-like. In this case the apparatus and its operation are modified as follows:

The air circulating 'system for the drying chamber 14 is made to include a condenser 19 provided with a cooling coil 80,. the air space in the condenser communicating with the pipe 19 and draining by way of a pipe 94 to a sump tank 10 provided with a discharge pipe 95 having a valve 96, said sump tank communicating with the drain pipe 68 which now, in addition to serving as a drain pipe, becomes also a vent pipe, venting by way of a port and around the ends of Wall 98 above the wall 3a to the chamber 2 and thence by way of pipe 99 to the atmosphere.

In this case, assuming the mechanism is operated as a dry cleaning machine, the two chambers 2 and 14 are each sealed against communication with the atmosphere except by the intercommunication between said chambers by way oi port |00 and by the pipe 99 with atmosphere.

Doors 55 and 58 are opened, together, or as a unit, and work is placed in the perforated cleaning drum 5. The doors are then closed, so that not only the space within the drum 5 but also thatwithin casing 6'and wall 4 are sealed against atmosphere except by way of the vent pipe 99. A cleaning operation now proceeds by rotation of the drum 5. When it is concluded said drum again may be rotated at high speed for extraction by' rotation of the variable speed motor 28 at higher speed. Following washing and extraction, the detergent may be drained oiI through the nipple I5, being delivered to funnel 69 and flowing by way of pipe 68 to the sump tank 10. Then, without opening door 56, the door 55 is opened and the drum is moved to its discharge position, shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, and the work is discharged into the drying chamber 14, but without any access of the detergent to atmosphere except by way of the vent pipe 99. 'I'he drum is then returned to its operating position and another batch of work is inserted and a cleaning operation goes on in the cleaning drum as before.

'I'he extracted work delvered'to chamber 14 is' now submitted to a drying operation with valves 88 and 88 in the full line position, Fig. 1.

The volatile detergent absorbed from the work isy condensed in the condenser by the cooling coil and is delivered by pipe 84 to the sump. When normalk drying is completed, the work is further driedv to the point of being completely deodorized by moving valves 88 and 80 lto the dotted line position, Fig. 1, the fan being continued in operation and fresh air being drawn in through pipe 88, passed over the workand discharged to atmosphere through pipe 81. Any detergent absorbed by this air is likewise condensed and delivered to the sump through pipe 94. When the deodorizing operation is completed the door 15 is opened and the work is withdrawn through the door opening 11.

It will be apparent that the machine described, when used as a washing machine, conducts both the washing and drying operations in the same machine with very simple delivery of the work from the washing chamber to the drying chamber in such manner as to avoid the use of trucks or other mechanism, as when the washing and drying machines are separate from each other. Further, these same operations can be carried out with dispatch and while the entire machine is sealed to the atmosphere, sowas to avoid either escape of steam or vapor or loss oi detergent or escape of fumes to the atmosphere with consequent harmful effect to operators or with the possibility of fire in case the detergent is combustible.

Other advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

1. 'I'he combination of a cleaning machine and a housing therefor, a closure for said housing and a closure for said machine, means for maintaining said closures ina tightly sealed position, said closures being connected to move as a unit for opening said closures to insert work in the machine, and means operatively associated with the closure for the machine and extending outside of the housing by means of which the closure for 'said machine may be opened while the closure for said housing is maintained in a tightly sealed position.

2. A cleaning machine, comprising a substantially cylindrical rotatable casing having a side opening therein, a stationary cover for said opening, a perforated work containing drum having side and end portions arranged in said casing and mounted for rotation about an axis, one of the end portions of said drum having an opening therein, a closure for the drum opening, means for rotating said drum about' its axis, means whereby said casing may be rotated lwith respect to the stationary cover to expose the side opening in said casing, and means whereby said drum may be moved through said opening about an axis which is transverse to the axis of rotation of said drum to such a position that the work will be discharged from the end of said drum when the drum closure is open.

3. A cleaning machine comprising a substantially cylindrical rotatable casing having a longitudinally extending side opening and an end opening, a perforated drum having a side portion and end portions arranged in said casing and mounted for rotation about an axis, one of the end portions of said drum having an opening therein which registers with the end opening in said casing, a stationary cover for the longitudinally extending opening in said casing, a closure -for the end openings in said casing and drum, means for rotating said drum on its axis, means whereby said casing may be rotated with respect to the stationary cover to expose the opening in the casing, and means whereby said drum may be moved through the side opening in said casing in one direction about an axis which is transverse to the axis of rotation of said drum to such a position that the work will be discharged from the drum when the casing and drum closure is open and in the opposite directin for returning the drum to its position in the casing.

4. A cleaning machine, comprising a substantially cylindrical rotatable casing having a side opening therein, a support for said casing, an arcuate-shaped stationary cover for the opening having its opposite side portions arranged within said casing and supported thereby, a perforated work containing" drum rotatably mounted on an axis within said casing, means whereby said casing may be rotated about its axis with respect to the stationary cover to expose said opening, means for preventing rotation of the stationary cover with the casing, and means whereby the drum may be moved through the exposed opening to discharge the work from said casing.

whereby said drum may be moved about a second axis to a position in which its end opening is above the lower opening in said housing, whereby the goods may be discharged from the drum through the opening in the lower portion of said housing when the drum closure is open.

6. The combination of a cleaning machine including a substantially cylindrical rotatable drum having an end opening and a closure for said opening, a housing for said machine which is substantially closed to the atmosphere, a door for said housing aligned with the opening in said drum through which work may be charged into said drum when the drum closure is open, means for rotating said drum to wash or clean the work, said housing having a lower opening, a door for the lower opening, and means whereby the end of saiddrum having the opening may be moved to a position above the lower opening and the door for the lower opening may be moved to open position, whereby the goods may be discharged from the drum through the opening in the lower portion of said housing when the drum closure is open.

7. The combination of a cleaning machine including a substantially cylindrical rotatable drum having an end opening and a closure for said opening, a housing for said machine which is substantially closed to the atmosphere, a door for said housing aligned with the opening in said drum through which work may be charged into said drum, means for rotating said drum to wash or clean the work, said housing having a lower opening, a door for the lower opening, means whereby said drum may be moved to such a position that its open end is above the door for the lower opening, and means responsive to the movement of said drum for simultaneously opening the lower door of the housing whereby the goods may be discharged from the drum through the opening in the lower portion of said housing when the drum closure is open.

'8. Cleaning apparatus including a housing, a partition dividing said housing into upper and lower compartments, a cleaning machine arranged in the upper compartment including a drum having an open end, a closure for said open end, a drying chamber arranged in the lower compartment said partition having an opening providing communication between the upper compartment and the drying chamber, a closure for said opening, means for cleaning fabric in said drum, means whereby solvent may be supplied to and drained from saiddrum, means whereby the drum may be moved to such a position that its openend is above the opening in said partition, and means responsive to the-movement of the drum for opening the closure in said partition.

9. Cleaning apparatus including a housing substantially closed to the atmosphere, a partition dividing said housing intofupper and lower compartments, a cleaning machine arranged in the upper compartment including a substantially cylindrical drum having an end opening, a closure for the drum opening accessible from the exterior of the housing. a drying chamber arranged in the lower compartment, said partition having an opening providing communication between the upper compartment and the drying chamber, a closure for said opening, means for cleaning fabric in said drum, means whereby the drum may be moved to a position at which its open end is above the opening in the partition to discharge the goods into the drying compartment when the drum closure is open, and means responsive to the movement of the d'rum for opening the closure in said partition.

10. Cleaning apparatus comprising a housing, a partition dividing said housing into upper and lower chambers, a cleaning machine arranged in the upper chamber of said housing, including a casing having a side opening and an end opening, a stationary cover for said side opening and a substantially cylindrical perforated drum arranged in said casing and having an end opening registering with the opening in said casing, a door accessible from the exterior of said housing for closing the drum opening and the end opening of said casing, a drying chamber arranged in the housing below said partition, said partition having an opening providing communication between said drying chamber and the upper chamber, means for cleaning work in said cleaning machine, means whereby said casing may be rotated to expose its side opening, and means whereby the drum may be moved through the side opening to a position where its open end is located above the opening communieating with the drying chamber to transfer the cleaned work to the drying chamber when the drum closure is open.

11. The combination with a dry cleaning apparatus which is substantially closed to the atmosphere, of a separate drying apparatus which is substantial/ly closed to the atmosphere, means whereby primunication for transferring fabric between the cleaning apparatus and the drying apparatus may be established without opening either to the atmosphere, means whereby communication between the cleaning apparatus and the drying apparatus may be closed, and means whereby air may be passed in a closed circuit through the drying apparatus` to dry the fabric in the drying apparatus when communication between the .cleaning apparatus and the drying apparatus is closed.

12. Dry cleaning apparatus, comprising a housing having an upper 'compartment which is substantially closed to the atmosphere, means in said compartment for cleaning fabric, said housing also having a drying chamber located below said compartment and which also is substantially closed to the atmosphere, means in said drying chamber for drying fabric, said compartment and chamber communicating by an opening through which fabric may be passed from the upper compartment to the drying chamber, a door for said opening, and operating means for said door extending through a wall of the housing and adapted for operation from the outside thereof without opening the apparatus or either of said compartment and chamber tothe atmosphere.

13. A dry, cleaning system, comprising a. housing having an upper compartment, a cleaning machine located in the upper` compartment and including a drum having an `opening,`a closure for said opening, said housing also having a drying chamber therein located below said compartment, said compartment and drying chamber being substantially closed to the atmosphere and communicating by an opening through which work may be transferred from the drum in the compartment to said chamber, a door for said opening, and operating means for said door extending through a wall4 of `said housing and adapted for operation from the outside thereof Without opening the system to the atmosphere.

14. A dry cleaning sysem, comprising a housing having walls forming an upper compartment and a lower drying chamber, with a wall separating said compartment and chamber, a cleaning machine located in said compartment and including a drum having an opening, a closure for said opening, said compartment and chamber communicating by an opening through said separating wall and through which work may be transferred from the drum in'said compartment to said drying chamber, a door for said opening, said drum being mounted for movement between a working position and a discharge position with its opening opposite the opening in said separating wall, means for moving said drum from its working to its discharge position, and means for operating saiddoor, said means extending through a wall of said housing and adapted for operation from the outside thereof without opening the system to the atmosphere.

15. A dry cleaning sysem including a housing having an upper compartment containing acleaning machine, a drying chamber located in said housing below said compartment, means for cleaning fabric in said cleaning machine, means for passing air in a closed circuit through said drying machine, a sump tank located in said housing below the drying chamber, means whereby solvent may be drained from the cleaning 'machine to said sump tank, means for condensing vapors in the drying operation and passing the condensate to said sump tank, means for maintaining the upper compartment, the drying chamber and the sump tank substantially closed to the atmosphere, and means whereby the sump tank and the drying chamber may be vented to the atmosphere through the upper compartment.

GEORGE W. JOHNSON. 

